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New Window Shades

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by sph101, Apr 12, 2020.

  1. sph101

    sph101 Prius 4

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  2. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    I've used shades similar to this on a previous car. They do work. They stay in place when you open/close the windows, so you can open the window and filter out flying insects and such like. They stop kids accidentally throwing toys out the window. They're also removable for the winter months or selling the car.

    In my last two cars I went with tints though. Pros and cons to both.
     
  3. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    I am intrigued enough to make a purchase. I’ll leave a review after my installation.
     
  4. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    In our climate, sun shade is never needed even during summer. But, I wish they make exterior window cover with similar design. For our frequent freezing rain, window covers including front and rear that are custom fit to the shape of the window and easy to install and remove would be perfect.
     
  5. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    It's worth noting that you can also get more complete sets of 5, that also covers the rear window, or 7, that also covers the two tiny rear side windows. The rear window shades are fitted in two halves to make them manageable.
     
  6. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    My interest is mostly on the two rear windows. I'd like to see if my dog would appreciate the windows being at least partway down without the danger of her head out the windows.
     
  7. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    I did both. These are my stealth window inserts (for my wannabe Prius Camper).

    50%-35%-35% Ceramic Tinting (vehicle windows) + PETG Window Inserts with 60/40 Perforated Vinyl and a 20% additional tinting (on the insert inside surface).

    The window tinting enhances the stealth characteristics. You don't notice the perforated vinyl unless you are standing right next to the vehicle.

    The additional tinting applied to the inserts isn't required and will probably be removed. 20200128_144552id.jpg 20200128_144625id.jpg 20200128_144642.jpg 20200128_160650.jpg
     
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  8. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    That's what I'm after...
     
  9. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    It is very labor intensive, but most of the work is in getting the shapes right.

    I am still working on the hatchback upper (large) window, which has turned out to be much more difficult than I had anticipated. Perforated vinyl doesn't work due to the angle of the window. It distorts and obstructs the view through the rear view mirror too much. 45 mesh white nylon screen seems to work, but I am still fine-tuning the fabrication process. I've ruined one upper hatch PETG insert for re-use by trying to bond the screen to it with 3M 77 contact adhesive. My next attempt I will try it by using rolled nylon screen instead of folded and securing the screen to the PETG without adhesive - i.e. by just sealing the edges with gorilla tape. In the meantime, the ruined hatchback insert is a little unsightly but is still usable.

    If you are interested, I will post scaled drawings of the inserts once I have finalized the mod. The shapes are very critical.
     
    #9 ice9, Apr 13, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2020
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  10. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    I'm going to try these pre-fabbed side screens first to see how they do. I have a tinted car so I don't think I need the big rear window.
     
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Let us know. I'm curious to see if it includes the small rear window as well.
     
  12. sph101

    sph101 Prius 4

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    The ones I have do not cover the small rear window only the window that opens and closes
     
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  13. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Also get a Weathertech insulated form fitted window shade from Pius Shop. Mine is 12 years old still in good shape.

    There awesome every car has one.

    I don't leave my car unattended for 5 minutes without that shade going up.
     
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Thanks for letting me know.
     
  15. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    I got the set of four window shades. I really like the rear seat duo. They fit nicely (no, the little rear window is not included). This is what I was after in the first place - I will be able to roll the windows half-way down and keep my dog contained inside the car while driving.
    I was less impressed with the front two. They just didn't seem to fit as well and would not allow the window to be rolled back up to the closed position. They had enough interference that the window retreated back down (safety first!).
    I am going to keep the set and just use the two rear shades installed. I will. keep the front ones in the car and possibly use them on particularly hot days - or when I am parked and waiting in the car for a long while.
    In a real vote of confidence, I ordered another set for my Avalon Hybrid. This is my wife's car and she really, really likes to use the air conditioner so the front windows stay shut much more often than those in the Prius.
     
  16. Me_

    Me_ Junior Member

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    got the window deflector on my car since day one. the big issue people have with them is they installed them poorly.

    Mine come with only one strip 1/4" of double 3M tape. Not enough. You need 2 stripes with a slight gap between. the window frames are not flat but convex.
     
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  17. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    Agreed. When installing rain guards with the single strip without extra strips, you have to get it right the first time. If you don't decontaminate the surface properly or if you try to correct misalignment, the adhesive will weaken and the rain guard will eventually fall off.

    Installing with two double-sided 3M strips and purchasing extra strips should go a long way towards fixing this problem.

    20200213_131636id.jpg
     
    #17 ice9, Apr 25, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2020
  18. Dngrsone

    Dngrsone Underwhelmed, to say the least

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    I was looking at the 2019 model sunshades with the extending wings to see if they will fit my 2016... but I might just go with these, since a full set costs about as much as a single replacement shade.
     
  19. andrewpable

    andrewpable Junior Member

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    How well do these hold up? I bought shade sox about 3 years ago and loved them but they are starting to stretch out and get holes in them from excessive use.
     
  20. Dngrsone

    Dngrsone Underwhelmed, to say the least

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    I ended up with something different, so I can't say